HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 2 EMERG OPERTN'S 09-08-92REPORTS NO. 2
9-8-92
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ATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 1992
To
WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
SUBJECT: CITY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION OPERATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this
report regarding the City's emergency communication operations, at
their September 8, 1992 meeting.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
This information is being provided pursuant to the request of Mayor
Pro Tem Jim Potts.
Emergency communications are critical to the successful response to
any disaster or emergency. Emergency planning must anticipate all
possible communication needs. In a disaster, tremendous confusion
can develop without timely and effective communication of
information within the Emergency Operations Center and between the
various responding departments and agencies.
• Currently, the City has communication capabilities through
telephones, cellular phones, radios, and hand-held packsets. The
following is a breakdown of all the mobile/transportable
communication capabilities.:
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Cellular Car Phones: 8 transportable
2 mounted in vehicles
3 back-up for use in emergency
TOTAL 13
Hand-held Packsets: 40
2 for communication with
Tustin Unified School District
TOTAL 42
The Police Department also has ten (10) unmarked investigative
units equipped with radios that may be utilized during an emergency
for field inspections and damage assessment.
PUBLIC WORKS
Cellular Phones 1
Vehicles with radios 51
Hand-held Packsets 6 (2 Maintenance, 2 Finance/Water,
2 Community Services)
For the Public Works vehicle radios, there is one (1) Base Station,
with three (3) desk units to access the Base Station.
It should also be noted that effective in September, the Police
Department will change to the Pacific Bell Centrex phone system.
In response to inquiries from the City regarding Central Office
switch restoration in the event of a major failure, affecting
Centrex service, Pacific Bell has assured staff that,t:t*his is not a
significant threat to the emergency communications' of the City.
All Pacific Bell Central Offices are built to endure the strongest
of natural disasters. Downtime for Centrex is estimated at no more
than one hour in 40 years. In the event of, a major failure,
Pacific Bell's goal is to achieve complete restoration within 30
minutes. All Pacific Bell Central Office switches are under total
surveillance by an Electronics Services Center and in the event
that the Central Office switch fails completely, Pacific Bell
maintains a mobile switch restoration trailor. This trailor can be
rolled right to the sight of the switch failure, and emergency
services can be restored within thirty minutes.
The new Civic Center complex will be utilizing the same phone
system. Further, the diesel -powered emergency generator will
insure that electricity will be available at the Police Department
and the new City Hall, should there be a power outage. This will
assist in keeping the phone system operational.
Discussions regarding the utilization of amateur radios have taken
place between staff, 'as well as with representatives of local
amateur radio organizations. Utilization of this type of
organization can provide a valuable secondary communication
resource. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the Police
Department is set up with storage space for portable amateur radio
equipment. At this point, however, staff is currently evaluating
the various secondary communication needs the City may have, to
determine the most efficient and effective utilization of the
amateur radio operators.
CONCLUSION
Communication is too important to be allowed to evolve during the
response phase of an emergency. Having a viable communication
system is a central part of emergency response planning. Staff
will continue to coordinate both the communication capabilities and
the potential communication needs of each department in order to
establish an effective emergency communication program for the City
of Tustin.
0,11
Robert S. Ledende r
Director of Public Works/
City Engineer
RSL:kIb:EMERCOMM
Aat Pitcher
Administrative Assistant II